A few months ago, I came across what looked like a real gem on eBay US: a studio copy of Intel’s iconic “Bong” sound. Yes! The famous 5-note jingle composed by Walter Werzowa in 1994 and used by Intel since the Pentium II era (starting in 1996).
According to the seller, the tape is a digital DAT (Digital Audio Tape) master from the post-production company Point.360 (still in business today), which worked with Intel in the 90s. The label on the tape had been torn, but some details are still readable: an Intel internal identification number (IIPCxxxx), along with other IDs (WO# 00123528 / GR #100).
I promptly bought it and then began the hunt for a decent DAT player locally. That stuff is still pricey! In the end, I found a refurbished Sony DTC-790 at a good price so I could test the tape. Here’s the result:
After about 20 seconds of the standard calibration tone, a female voice says: “This is for Intel Corporation. ID number IIPC5100. Audio signature ID for the Intel Inside Pentium III Processor for Worldwide use.” followed by the famous bong! What a nice treasure!
This isn’t the very first version used for the Pentium II, but the second revision used from 1999 to 2006 for the Pentium III and Pentium 4. Personally, I find this version the most iconic (the earlier one sounds much less dynamic to my ear). You can listen to all the revisions of the “bong” (there are dozens) on this website.
Même pas avec un lecteur DDS hacké pour lire de l’audio ?
Trop risqué !